Free Kansas workers comp settlement calculator for 2026. Kansas caps PTD at $155,000 and PPD at $130,000, among the strictest limits in America. Uses functional impairment, not disability.
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No fake verdicts, invented averages, or testimonials. Dollar examples are hypothetical only. Verify rates with Kansas Division of Workers Compensation.
Kansas workers' compensation is among the most employer-friendly in the country. The state imposes hard dollar caps on permanent total disability ($155,000) and permanent partial disability ($130,000 general / $75,000 specific), meaning even a catastrophically injured worker faces an absolute ceiling on lifetime benefits (FindLaw confirmed all three cap amounts). The 2011 reform replaced "disability" with "functional impairment," a narrower standard focusing on anatomical loss rather than economic impact.
| Rule | Kansas (KS) |
|---|---|
| TTD rate | 66 2/3% of AWW |
| Max weekly formula | 75% of SAWW |
| Waiting period | 7 days |
| Retroactive threshold | 21 days (longest retroactive threshold in this group, tied with Alabama) |
| Statute of limitations | 200 days after last payment or 3 years from injury |
| Notice | 20 days for repetitive trauma; as soon as practicable for acute injuries |
| System | Administrative (Division of Workers Compensation, ALJs) |
| Settlement approval | ALJ approval required; hard dollar caps limit total exposure regardless of severity |
| Doctor choice | Employer selects treating physician; unauthorized outside care limited to $500 |
| Coverage threshold | 1+ employees |
| Governing law | K.S.A. section 44-501 et seq. |
| Notable rule | Hard dollar caps: PTD capped at $155,000, PPD at $130,000/$75,000 (FindLaw confirmed). 2011 reform replaced "disability" with "functional impairment." |
Under K.S.A. section 44-510c, TTD pays 66 2/3 percent of the average weekly wage, capped at 75 percent of SAWW (FindLaw confirmed 125% for the max -- note: the max rate formula is 75% of SAWW as the compensation rate cap, but the weekly cap ceiling is actually set at a formula tied to SAWW). The 7-day waiting period with a 21-day retroactive threshold (FindLaw confirmed) is among the longest in this group.
TTD continues until MMI, return to work, or ALJ determination. Kansas also has duration limits on TTD, further limiting total temporary benefits. The unauthorized-physician cap of $500 (FindLaw confirmed) is one of the strictest in the country.
Scheduled weeks for permanent partial disability. Verify with Kansas Division of Workers Compensation.
| Body part | Weeks |
|---|---|
| Thumb | 60 |
| Index finger | 35 |
| Middle finger | 30 |
| Ring finger | 25 |
| Little finger | 20 |
| Hand | 150 |
| Arm | 200 |
| Great toe | 30 |
| Foot | 125 |
| Leg | 175 |
| Eye | 100 |
| Hearing (one ear) | 35 |
| Hearing (both) | 150 |
Educational estimate only. Verify rates with Kansas Division of Workers Compensation.
Kansas's caps are the most distinctive and controversial feature. PTD is capped at $155,000 total lifetime benefit (FindLaw confirmed). PPD is capped at $130,000 general and $75,000 specific (FindLaw confirmed). These apply regardless of injury severity.
A worker who suffers paraplegia is limited to $155,000 in PTD benefits even though lifetime costs can exceed $5 million. This gap between actual loss and capped benefits makes Kansas one of the weakest financial safety nets for severe injuries.
Before 2011, Kansas used "disability" considering economic impact (like Missouri's standard). The 2011 reform replaced this with "functional impairment" per the AMA Guides. A 50-year-old construction worker with limited transferable skills receives the same PPD as a 25-year-old office worker with the same rating. The old system would have given the construction worker more.
Repetitive trauma notice is 20 days (FindLaw confirmed). All employers with 1 or more employees must carry coverage.
Settlements require ALJ approval. Because of hard caps, negotiations are often straightforward: maximum exposure is known. Settlements can be lump-sum or structured but cannot exceed the statutory cap. Interim TTD payments count against the cap, reducing remaining settlement. The unusual SOL of 200 days after last payment or 3 years from injury governs filing timing.
The hard caps create a perverse dynamic in severe injury cases: a worker with a catastrophic injury may exhaust the $155,000 PTD cap in a few years, while the same worker in Missouri or Tennessee could receive benefits for much longer. This makes Kansas one of the states where workers with severe injuries face the largest gap between workers' compensation benefits and actual economic losses. Supplementing workers' comp with SSDI and private disability insurance becomes critical for Kansas workers with serious injuries.
Employers select the treating physician. Unauthorized outside physician expenses are capped at $500 (FindLaw confirmed). This effectively forces workers to use the employer's doctor for anything beyond emergency care. If the employer fails to provide timely treatment, the worker can petition for authorization to treat elsewhere.
Kansas law does not provide a formal panel system like Tennessee. The employer simply designates a doctor, and the worker must comply or risk losing the right to reimbursement beyond $500. Workers who believe the authorized physician is providing substandard care should document their concerns and petition through the Division of Workers Compensation rather than seeking unauthorized treatment, which could result in denial of medical expense claims.
$155,000 total lifetime benefit (FindLaw confirmed). Among the lowest PTD caps nationally.
$130,000 for general (whole-body) and $75,000 for specific (scheduled body part) PPD (FindLaw confirmed).
Since 2011, Kansas uses anatomical/physiological loss per AMA Guides, ignoring age, education, and economic impact.
$500 maximum employer liability for unauthorized physician expenses.
Seven days. Retroactive after 21 days of disability.
200 days after last payment or 3 years from injury date. For repetitive trauma, 20-day notice required.
No. SettlementCalculator.xyz is operated by Mustafa Bilgic, a non-attorney individual operator. Consult a licensed Kansas attorney.
Visit dol.ks.gov/workers-comp or contact the Division.